Are you afraid of getting old?

[Dann]

No. All you young whippersnappers don't know what you're missing. Getting a polite "Can I help you sir?" from salespeople instead of "Whaddaya want boy?" for instance.

As for growing really I don't fear that either. I look forward to having a valid license to be grumpy and cranky all the time, beating kids on the bus over the noggin with my cane for being too slow to offer me a seat.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I fear not age nor aging. I welcome it, in fact.

 

[Quasar1011]

No. I'm more afraid of waking up with a moose in my bed.

 

[Shaihulud]

Im afraid of becoming senile or a burden, not necessarily old. When my grandparents died, i remember what a heavy financial burden it was, we had to beg for the necessary treatments from our relatives.

 

[CurtSibling]

No. I'm more afraid of waking up with a moose in my bed.

I take it that such an event is a possibility in your life?

 

[Dann]

Im afraid of becoming senile or a burden, not necessarily old. When my grandparents died, i remember what a heavy financial burden it was, we had to beg for the necessary treatments from our relatives.

Well now THAT is something to be feared in my book. And one need not even be old or senile to become a burden to your family. Unemployment. Disability. Mental instability. Addiction. And many other factors that prevent one from being a productive member of the family. Oh sure they love you and support you allright but surely one will not wish to live on charity forever no? Friction will occur sooner or later. This is why if I can't be helpful then I'd rather be out of their (my family's) hair instead.

 

[Swedishguy]

I don't know. Can I be afraid of something unavoidable?

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

I want the next cupple of years to disappear after that I am afraid of aging (If I don't kill myself before that)

 

[Sophie 378]

I dont think cancer is genetic since i know how it works but i could be wrong.

Both genetic and environmental.

I'm sorry.

Well the process of GETTING cancer is random mutation with mitosis in your bodies cells which can be a result of enviromental change but i guess genetics plays a roll in the predisposition of cancer.

No need to be sorry, CH: many cancers are linked to genetics, which is why a family history is important! Xanikk: Genetics plays a pretty big role in cancer - as well as several other factors. 30% of cancers are related to diet, another 30% to cigarette smoking. Genetic predisposition is an important factor because so many things depend on the genetics. As well as the mutations in the actual gene that lead to cancer, you can have polymorphisms (ie, slightly different genetics) in DNA repair genes, DNA checking genes, detoxification enzymes, mitosis checker genes, tumour promotors, tumour supressors, etc. Nearly a whole percent of the genome is involved in mutagenesis and cancer!

[/offtopic]

I'm a bit scared of growing old, but there are several nearer, bigger things to be scared of ... this afternoon's test, Wednesday's presentation, Friday's poster, next semester's exams, my dissertation, my student loan, walking home at one in the morning when there's someone walking along just behind me, etc.

 

[Eli]

Cycle of life my ass.

Being part of life doesn't make death any better.

I'm not afraid of it, but I intend to avoid it and much as I can, hopefully forever.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

"Forever". If that isnt the least understood word in the English, I dont know what is. Its interesting to me that in an age where people have an attention span that can be measured in seconds, the word forever is casually thrown around. I cant imagine anything more awful than doing, experiencing, feeling or being anything 'forever'. There can be no greater punishment.

 

[Eli]

"Forever". If that isnt the least understood word in the English, I dont know what is. Its interesting to me that in an age where people have an attention span that can be measured in seconds, the word forever is casually thrown around. I cant imagine anything more awful than doing, experiencing, feeling or being anything 'forever'. There can be no greater punishment.

I don't know what about you but I'm constantly changing, constantly learning and constantly thinking about new stuff that I want to do. Off the top of my head, I can probably fill two thousand years with just the stuff I know I want to do or learn. And any day more ideas show up.

For example, I want to know everything there is to know about history. But I also want to travel all over the planet, spending years in the same regions in order to fully understand and comprehend them. Can't be done in a single lifetime.

 

[El_Machinae]

It's not really possible to actually live forever, anymore than than it's possible to count to infinity. The best you can do is keep your forseeable death in the 'unlikely' status.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I don't know what about you but I'm constantly changing, constantly learning and constantly thinking about new stuff that I want to do. Off the top of my head, I can probably fill two thousand years with just the stuff I know I want to do or learn. And any day more ideas show up.

Exactly. We tend to think of our lives as being very short, but look at all the changes youve been through already, how much youve grown. Thats not going to stop. Lets check back in 30 or 40 years and see what the future Eli thinks of all this

For example, I want to know everything there is to know about history. But I also want to travel all over the planet, spending years in the same regions in order to fully understand and comprehend them.

Blah, seen one, ya seen 'em all

 

[Ingvina Freyr]

Geeting old may be crappy, but it's still better than the alternative.

Getting continuously younger till you become a sperm?

Yes, why isn't life set the other way around?

First you die, then you don't have to worry about that any more.

Secondly, you get to spend a few years in a home for old people where a pretty young nurse is bringing you food and extra pillows etc

After a few years you start feeling better and move to your own apartment. Now the government starts paying you money each month so you and your friends can travel the world, go to theatres, restaurants etc.

After having gained a lot of knowledge and wisdom you start a career with a huge paycheck every month, making it easy for you to buy a house, a nice car, a big flat screen TV and all other toys you might want.

Then when you get tired of working you start school, but since your career is behind you, there's no need for you to study anything that you're not particularly interested in.

As school becomes less interesting you spend more and more time playing with your friends.

Your last years are spent in the warm comfort of your parents, as they provide you with all you need.

And then it all ends in a big orgasm!

 

[shortguy]

I'm a bit scared of growing old, but there are several nearer, bigger things to be scared of ... this afternoon's test, Wednesday's presentation, Friday's poster, next semester's exams, my dissertation, my student loan, walking home at one in the morning when there's someone walking along just behind me, etc.

I agree. I'm scared of it on some level, but I've got more proximate concerns to do the actual worrying about.

 

[Masquerouge]

Not really.

I would be more concerned of getting old AND broke, but I'm already taking care of that, so hopefully that won't happen.

 

[Rambuchan]

I'm not afraid of getting old. In fact I am relishing it. Life, and the perspective one can develop on it from experience, means it gets more complex, meaningful, deep and interesting. Our abilities and knowledge expand with time and experience too. That physical frailty comes with such terrain is a small price to pay.

Can't wait for the day, when i am allowed to complain about the youth of today.

I can't wait for the day when I can go into a police station, urinate on the floor and stand there mumbling obscenities, only for them to say: "Can we offer you a lift home sir?"

And how beer is not what it used to be. And how hard we had it back in the day.
We had nothing! To get the clot of dirt, of which we would cook our coffee, we had to walk 30miles. Waist deep in snow. Barefeet, of course. Along the way, we had to wrestle with Highwaymen and bite Grizzly bears to death.

Feet?! You were lucky to have feet! When I were a lad, my old man chopped our feet off, had them for breakfast, then made us walk through broken glass on our already bleeding stumps, allowing people to throw pennies at our heads for entertainment. Then he whipped our hands with a cat-o-nine-tails, made us pick all the pennies up, punched us in the face after doing so and kicked us up the backside all the way home, which was derelict public toilet infested with rats. And when we got home, he put our heads down the rodent infested bowls and made us lick the sides for dinner. And that was just for my third birthday! But tell that to yer young uns today, and they won't believe you...

 

[Ingvina Freyr]

I can't wait for the day when I can go into a police station, urinate on the floor and stand there mumbling obscenities, only for them to say: "Can we offer you a lift home sir?"

You have to be really old or really rich for that to happen!

EDIT: For the first part though, you only have to be very drunk.

 

[Masquerouge]

And that was just for my third birthday! But tell that to yer young uns today, and they won't believe you...

You had birthdays? Sissy.